Fracking questions fielded at City Hall

City Council members concerned about Canton’s water supply questioned experts Thursday on a controversial method of drilling for oil and natural gas.

The Repository

Writer

Posted Mar. 11, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 11, 2011 at 11:03 AM

Posted Mar. 11, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 11, 2011 at 11:03 AM

CANTON

City Council members concerned about Canton’s water supply questioned experts Thursday on a controversial method of drilling for oil and natural gas.

The method in question combines horizontal drilling and a process called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” to extract natural gas from deep shale formations. The hearing, called by Councilwoman Mary Cirelli, D-at large, took sworn testimony from one expert who supports the process, and several opposed to the method.

Council members have concerns that chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing are toxic and could pollute the city’s water supply in Tuscarawas County.

Stark County native and Plain township resident David Beck of Beck Energy said drilling is regulated and residents are protected by state laws and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

But, “The best regulation is you ... showing up here tonight,” he told about 50 people who attended the hearing in the Council Chamber. Beck Energy has never done horizontal fracking, which is much more expensive than vertical drilling, but yields more product.

If a drilling accident happens and Canton’s water supply is ruined, “we might as well shut off the lights and close the door here,” said Councilman Bill Smuckler, D-at large.

Beck said there have been no problems reported in Ohio, but Smuckler pointed out that there have been problems in other states. “What did they do?” he asked. Beck said he had no answer for the question.

He asked Beck about the difference in cost of vertical and horizontal drilling. Beck said to get to the Marcellus shale deposit, fracking might go down 7,000 feet and horizontally 3,000 feet, in a “spider” pattern.

That might cost $4 million, he said.

Schulman asked about supervision and environmental oversight in the permit process. Beck said plans are examined in Columbus by ODNR, an inspector with a geological background does a site inspection before drilling.

Any water wells nearby have to be tested, and damage should be covered by a bond taken out annually, he said.

John Stolz, director of the Center for Environmental Education and Research at Duquesne University, said he’s been studying the effects of horizontal fracking for about two years.

“The industry will tell you they are taking all these wonderful precautions,” he said. “Every company is trying to do their best, but accidents happen.”

Horizontal fracking can use more than a million gallons of water, combined with sand and chemicals. Trucks capable of carrying only 4,500 gallons create a lot of truck traffic to drilling sites, he said.

The water recovered from fracking is often stored in pits of 8 to 10 acres, which can cause environmental and health problems, Stolz said.